A Quiet Kind of Thunder

Sunday, 13 November 2016

If anyone loves Sara Barnard's writing just as much as I do, you'll be happy to know that she's releasing a new YA book in January 2017. I was lucky enough to snag a proof copy of A Quiet Kind of Thunder to review on my blog, and it's the sweetest, most adorable Young Adult novel I've read in a long time. Even more amazing than Beautiful Broken Things (which, FYI, I adored).

A Quiet Kind of Thunder tells the story of selective mute Steffi, who, save from speaking to her parents and her best friend September, has sent most of her life living in complete silence. She feels completely invisible to the outside world - until a new deaf pupil named Rhys arrives at her school.

The only teenager with an understanding of basic sign language, Steffi is assigned to look after him. Having to overcome the barriers of sound, communicating with Rhys is a difficult challenge (to begin with) - but it's one that helps her find her own voice, and eventually, discover the love she feels towards a boy who helps her express it.

Favourite quote:

'I decided this is just A Bad Day. We all get them, because grief doesn't care how many years it's been.'

Favourite character:If I had to pick a favourite character from the book, it would have to be Steffi (closely followed by Rhys, of course). I absolutely loved the way how Sara Barnard portrayed her as an extremely realistic character who had good days and bad days, and happy thoughts and unhappy thoughts. Albeit having a small voice, she was a character with a strong narrative, and one that was impossible not to look up to and admire.

3 words to describe the book:

Raw, realistic, beautiful.

Rating:

✮✮✮✮/✮✮✮✮✮

This book is beautiful, and not just because it's written by Sara Barnard. As well as being engaging and exceptionally written, the story handles issues such as anxiety, and living with selective mutism and deafness, in such a poignant and realistic light. When I say that this book is amazing, I mean it. It's all kind of gold and bronze (you'll understand my reference when you read the book, okay?). Add it to your TBR list immediately. And buy it when it's out. And then read it, and read it again, and recommend it to your friends. It's brilliant.

Great review! I'm always open to reading about new books, seeing that I need some new ones for my collection. That's one of my new year goals❤️️ This is definitely going on the list!KeepingupwithMJ.com